Last Tuesday, Federal Computer Week reported that the Central Intelligence Agency signed a 10-year, $600 million cloud deal with Amazon Web Services (AWS). CRN immediately reached out to our Chief Cloud Technologist, David Blankenhorn due to his familiarity with AWS. Read his views and more on the reported deal by reading the CRN article.

As agencies continue moving toward shared IT infrastructures, as they consolidate data centers and move to the cloud, data-centric cybersecurity has become a premium. “Really it comes back to security which has to be backed in, not bolted on, at all the different layers…,” advises Anil Karmel, Deputy Chief Technology Officer at the National Nuclear Security Administration. Read why here.

In an effort to reign in cybersecurity, the government wants to begin monitoring digital information coming in and out of defense contractors, including data from e-mails and web searches. Private sector contractors with access to government networks are susceptible to cyberattacks due to their proximity to desired information and their weaker cybersecurity. The Chicago Tribune has an in-depth report.

The CFA Institute has put together a stellar list of cybersecurity resources. Together, they seek to answer two questions: How do I know if my computer is infected by a botnet and what practical steps can organizations take to improve self-awareness. Read their article and the resources here.